Digital dentistry

Abstract

The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for virtual articulation, comprising:
 acquiring two-dimensional data from two independent dental structures of a dental patient;   generating from the two-dimensional data three-dimensional surface data for the two dental structures;   acquiring orientation data defining a relative position of the two dental structures while in occlusion, wherein the orientation data includes three-dimensional surface data that spans the two dental structures while in occlusion; and   providing a three-dimensional digital model, based upon the two-dimensional data and the orientation data, for virtually articulating the two dental structures.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring orientation data step includes acquiring the orientation data for centric occlusion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring orientation data step includes acquiring the orientation data for maximum intercuspation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring orientation data step includes acquiring the orientation data for lateral excursion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring orientation data step includes acquiring the orientation data for protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquiring two-dimensional data step includes scanning the two dental structures with a three-dimensional scanning device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising displaying a video of the scanning while acquiring the two-dimensional data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a three-dimensional orientation of a full bite registration from the orientation data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes providing motion data describing a relative motion of the two dental structures. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the providing step includes providing the motion data representing a full range of motion of the two dental structures. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the providing step includes obtaining the motion data by capturing orientation data for the two dental structures in a plurality of positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the providing step includes obtaining the motion data by extrapolating three-dimensional motion of the two dental structures from video data of the two dental structures. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising deriving a position of TMJ condyle paths of rotation and translation from the motion data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface having user controls to permit positioning of the two dental structures within the three-dimensional digital model. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing step includes displaying the user interface on a display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing step includes displaying the user interface on a touch-screen display.